Do Paolo Di Canio's views have any bearing on his suitability to run a
football team?

Paolo Di Canio, the new manager of Sunderland football club, has insisted that his past enthusiasm for Italian fascism has no bearing on his fitness to do the job.

However, the ferocious criticism that has accompanied his appointment – notably the resignation of David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, from the club’s board – might make that proposition difficult to sustain.

When Di Canio was manager of Swindon Town, or a player, his politics were never a national issue.

But in the North East it is a different matter. Local miners in Durham and organisations representing veterans who fought in the Second World War have joined the protests and fans have threatened to boycott games at the Stadium of Light.

How far should someone’s political views have a bearing on whether they are suitable to run a football team?

It is certainly true that the so-called beautiful game is still scarred by racism, with black players abused by fans, especially in eastern Europe.

For his part, Di Canio – who has a tattoo referring to Benito Mussolini on his arm and was once fined as a player for giving a fascist salute – maintains that he does not condone racism.

It is, though, naive to say politics and sport can always be separated. The latter can be a powerful vehicle for the former, as was shown when the American runners gave the black power salute at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.

Doubtless, most people will find Di Canio’s political views offensive; yet, as far as we know, he was not proposing to use his managerial post as a campaign platform.

So the question arises: does it matter? In the end, it will be up to the club’s supporters. If they shun the team, then the owners might find it difficult, if not impossible, to stick with Di Canio.